“Come with me. I’m taking you to go see your nonno.”
Guilt eats at me. I feel so selfish for not being able to check on him while I’ve been trapped here. Has he been getting his medication? Are the nurses doing their job? Who is his new nurse? Has someone been taking him to his doctor’s appointments? Sweat beads my forehead.
Devious strokes my cheeks, and I flush and pull away. I hate it when he acts gentle toward me because it makes me confused. I nod, and Devious tells three guards to follow us as we head out of the door and get into the car.
Hopefully, Nonno is getting proper treatment and his medication. My hands are jittery with excitement and nervousness. Butterflies dance in the pit of my stomach, and I control my breathing.
Once we’re in the car, Devious rests his hand on my thigh, and I flinch, but I don’t remove his fingers. My eyes narrow on him, and he appears carefree and boyish. Sometimes, I wish he looked like Shrek so I wouldn’t be sexually attracted to him.
Devious taps his thumb on the side of the door while he hums a song.
We stop in front of the building at the old penthouse. Maybe he needs to stop by and get something before he takes me to my nonno’s house?
Devious strides over to the back and opens my door, and we head inside the building. When we walk into the penthouse, my eyes damn near pop out of their sockets and roll onto the floor. Nonno is perched on a recliner, and his dull eyes land on us.
“It’s Draco’s son,” Nonno says, then glances at me. “It’s Rose Bug.” A smile dances on his face. Nonno is always excited about seeing new people.
Devious moved him out of the Lower East Side and moved him up here in the Upper East Side. My heart leaps inside my chest. I want to hug him, but I keep my feet glued to the floor.
“Sit. Sit.” He points to the couch. Devious sits on the couch, and my throat clogs with emotion as I hug Nonno.
“What’s wrong with you?” Nonno asks, letting me go.
“I miss you,” I murmur.
“I miss you too. You need to visit more often. And your parents too.”
“He says this every time I visit him,” Devious murmurs, resting his leg on his thigh.
Shooting him a peculiar gaze, I perch on the couch next to him. “You visit him?” I ask in disbelief.
He nods. “Three times a week.”
Shock swallows me whole. “Why? It doesn’t matter. You will not use him as a pawn to control me.”
“I wasn’t planning on it, but if you try to tell me what to do again, I’ll give your little ass a spanking,” he snaps.
I sink into the couch, folding my arms across my chest.
A male nurse who I’ve never met comes up to Nonno. “It’s time to get changed.”
I’m particular about who I want to take care of Nonno. He’s my best friend, and I don’t want anyone thinking they can abuse him.
“Who are you? What is your name? I don’t know you,” I tell the nurse.
He frowns, eyeing me suspiciously. “Donald. Mr. Cayden hired me.”
Nonno gets up from the couch, placing his hand on his hip. “Don’t you two go anywhere. I want to tell you stories about your nonna.”
Donald beckons Nonno to the bedroom, and I hear the door shut with a thud.
Irritation grows inside me like a weed. “He has a lot of medical bills I have to pay off. He can’t afford this penthouse. You’re putting him in more debt.”
“Roselyn, calm down.” He rolls his eyes. “I’m handling it. I paid his debt and his medical bills. I’m paying all his household bills. A thank-you would be nice.”
“Thank you,” I exhale. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
Irritation paints his face. “You’re my wife, Roselyn. I have to take care of you.” He glides me onto his lap, and he rests his palms on my hips, but I wiggle my butt, trying to break free from him. “I’m having a shitty day, and I want to hold on to you. Don’t worry, I won’t eat or fuck your pussy unless you’re begging me to.”
